A BIRMINGHAM couple cruelly allowed their dogs to become massively flea-ridden and seriously underweight by not feeding them properly, city magistrates were told.

A BIRMINGHAM couple cruelly allowed their dogs to become massively flea-ridden and seriously underweight by not feeding them properly, city magistrates were told.

Keith Gray, 29, and Lisa Gray, 32, of Denshaw Road, Kings Heath, each admitted four charges of animal cruelty. Keith Gray was given a three-month prison sentence suspended for two years, while his wife was made the subject of a two-year community rehabilitation order.

They were each ordered to pay #400 costs and banned from keeping any dogs for 10 years by magistrates for the "prolonged and deliberate neglect."

Nick Sutton, prosecuting, said the dogs called Jack and Spike were seized from the couple's home by an RSPCA officer in August last year.

He said because of a lack of feeding both animals had become emaciated to a "very serious degree".

Mr Sutton said as a result they had suffered hair loss and also had ear infections.

He said the veterinary surgeon who examined them said in his 15 years experience he had only seen half a dozen other cases where the flea infestation was so large. Jack

had lost a third of his normal body weight, while Spike weighed 14 kilograms when his ideal weight should have been between 20-26kgs.

Mr Sutton said the vet believed the dogs had suffered for several weeks. Neither defendant had shown much remorse for what had happened to the animals.

Mrs Angela McDonald, defending, said the couple had tried to get help but they were both on benefits and had not taken the dogs to the vet because of lack of money.